French Open 2021: Naomi Osaka's coach defends media boycott, says Japanese star using status to 'address problems, initiate things'

Berlin: The coach of Naomi Osaka says she is using her superstar status to force change with her controversial media boycott at the French Open. “Naomi has the opportunity to use her status to address problems and to initiate things,” Osaka’s Belgian coach Wim Fissette told German magazine Der Spiegel. “In the United States, the subject is very topical at the moment, as athletes want more freedom in dealing with the press. “So that they are simply not threatened right away with punishment if they don’t feel well for a day.” On Sunday, officials at Roland Garros threatened Osaka , the world number two, with disqualification if she persists in boycotting media press conferences, which she claims are detrimental to her mental health. The 23-year-old was fined $15,000 for refusing to attend a press conference after her opening 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Romanian world number 63 Patricia Maria Tig. Following her win, Osaka agreed only to a cursory on-court TV interview. Osaka has likened traditional post-match press conferences to “kicking people when they’re down”, but French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton has described her vow of silence as “a phenomenal error”. However, following her win over Tig, Osaka stood firm by tweeting: “Anger is a lack of understanding. Change makes people uncomfortable.”

anger is a lack of understanding. change makes people uncomfortable.

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 30, 2021

In the Spiegel interview, Fissette also insisted Osaka “knows it’s important to talk to the press” and is not boycotting the media “for herself alone”, but is “concerned with fundamental issues — she wants to bring about change”. Earlier this year, the Japanese superstar won the fourth Grand Slam title of her career at the Australian Open, but has never got past the third round of the French Open.